Syrian refugees in Newfoundland can only watch as Aleppo destroyed

As the bombing of Aleppo resumed on Wednesday afternoon, Syrian refugees who have resettled in St. John's say they can only watch as the destruction continues in their home country.

• Aleppo evacuation delayed, shelling and bombing resume

The refugees in St. John's continue to call for government intervention into the deadly conflict in Syria, which looks to soon enter its sixth year.

CBC News spoke to the group of new Canadian residents as they took a break from their language learning classes offered by the Association for New Canadians in St. John's.

"A lot of children, every day, [are dying]," said Nezar Khlifa. "Why [isn't] the world [helping] them? And every day, [bombs] from the airplane."

The man from Daraa, on the southern side of Syria, said he knows many people in Aleppo, and many who are in need of profound help.

"A lot of people who need help, every day. Don't eat. Too cold for them. We don't have [food]," he said.

MohidimIlrhab, a Syrian from Homs, saidit's difficult for him to be in Canada while the war rages in his home country.

"Difficult, because we are staying here." he said. "Visit, come, go to friends, your friends come But in Syria, every day people die. All people are hungry. [Bombs] every day."

Aleppo shelling

8 years ago

Duration 1:21

Airstrikes and shelling continue, putting a hold on ceasefire deal

Most everyone in Syriahaveconnections to Aleppo, added RandaAl-Sheik, a Syrian woman from Idlib. The city is currently under siege, and facing a crisis which the United Nations said isa "complete meltdown of humanity."

"I watch the bombing, and the events in Syria, especially in Aleppo We couldn't do anything, just watching. I cannot express about my feeling. It's so horrible, and so bad," she said.

"All people [who] live in Aleppo [are] our siblings, our family."

Al-Sheik saidshe hasn't had any friends or family die in Aleppo, but has lost people in other parts of Syria.

"We talk about [it], but we cannot do anything here," she said."Maybe just we must [keep] talking to our governments and to other communities. Just to help if they can please help Aleppo."

Fared El-Sheik, speaking through a translator, told a remarkable story of a government soldier allegedly entering a home and killing a 15-year-old boy in Syria.

"There's nothing like this happened before, we need everything to be stopped. The violence to be stopped," his translator relayed.